Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Saldenah Carnival's Free Kiddies Launch: Celebrating the Parade's Future 2022 section photo for last year's Kiddies launch As the anticipation builds for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s highly anticipated Grand Parade, the spotlight is also shining on the upcoming July 22nd Kiddies Parade, a beloved tradition that celebrates the young participants and offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of masquerade.  With the aim of fostering a sense of camaraderie and introducing children to the rich traditions of carnival, the Saldenah Carnival’s annual Kiddies Launch is set to take place on Sunday, May 28th at 280 Consumers Rd Unit 344 in Scarborough. Hayden Harbin, Saldenah Carnival's organizer, emphasizes the significance of the Kiddies Parade, stating, "The Kiddies Parade is just as important as the Grand Parade that the Big Kids take part in. They are the parade's future."  Harbin encourages parents to bring their children to the free mas camp launch this Sun...

By Stephen Weir, photographs by Dan Moreland Wave after wave of junior masqueraders showed off their moves and their wildly colourful mas costumes to an audience of parents, friends and members of the press.   The Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s Junior Parade media launch was held indoors at the Malvern Town Centre mall over the lunch hour on Tuesday. Ahead the July 21 st Junior Carnival, a preview of costumes and performances was put on display for the cameras. The hour and half launch was a mixture of entertainment by young costumed revelers and speeches by adult politicians, sponsors and organizers giving the media information about four coming events for children taking part in the 2018 carnival. “ This year we really want to bring it back to the kids and to the families,” said Kevin Carrington, the MC for the media launch. “We have the Junior Carnival King and Queen Showcase taking place on stage at the Woodbine Centre in Etobicoke on July 15th...

It was a Kiddies Launch Weekend in Toronto By Stephen Weir  Photographs by Don Moreland Two days. Three launches.   Close to a 1,000 kids and parents spent part of their weekend taking in costume launches for this year’s Kiddies Parade. On Saturday and Sunday trio of Mas Camps held parties and fashion shows for junior revelers who want to play Mas this summer.   Sun Lime Mas, Louis Saldenah’s Mas-K-Camp and Tribal Carnival held free costume launches to show children what costumes they could wear in the coming July 21 st Junior Carnival. On Saturday Sun Lime Mas did just what their name says.   Under a warm sun, the Kiddies Band Launch was taken outdoors onto a large wooden stage that had been built behind their St. Clair Avenue East headquarters (Kennedy/Midland).   Parents and friends sat in lawn chairs and limed while the children lunched on hot dogs and treats and waited for the show to start.    Over a dozen young chil...